| Lawrence, Massachusetts minor league baseball teams | |
| Firstseason: | 1877 |
| Lastseason: | 1947 |
| Allyears: | 1877, 1884,–1887, 1892, 1895, 1899, 1902–1917, 1919, 1926–1927, 1933, 1946–1947 |
| City: | Lawrence, Massachusetts |
| Class Level: | Independent (1884–1887, 1895, 1899) Class B (1892, 1902–1917, 1919, 1926–1927, 1946–1947) |
| League: | New England Association (1877) Massachusetts State Association (1884) Eastern New England League (1885) New England League (1886–1887, 1892) New England Association (1895) New England League (1899, 1902–1915) Eastern League (1916–1917) New England League (1919, 1926–1927, 1933, 1946–1947) |
| Majorleague: | New York Giants (1933) |
| Nickname: | Lawrence (1877, 1884, 1886–1887, 1892, 1899) Lawrence Indians (1895) Lawrence Colts (1902–1910) Lawrence Barristers (1911–1917, 1919) Lawrence Merry Macks (1926–1927) Lawrence Weavers, (1933) Lawrence Millionaires (1946–1947) |
| Ballpark: | Association Grounds (1877–1892) Glen Forest Park (1895–1910) O'Sullivan Park (1911–1917, 1919, 1926–1927, 1933, 1946–1947) |
| Leaguenum: | 4 |
Minor league baseball teams were based in Lawrence, Massachusetts between 1877 and 1946. Lawrence minor league baseball teams played as members of the 1877 New England Association, 1884 Massachusetts State Association, 1885 Eastern New England League, New England League (1886–1887, 1892, 1899), 1895 New England Association, New England League (1899, 1902–1915), Eastern League (1916–1917) and New England League (1919, 1926–1927, 1933, 1946–1947).
Lawrence played as a minor league affiliate of the New York Giants in 1933.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Jesse Burkett served as manager of the 1916 Lawrence Barristers.
In 1877, minor league baseball began in Lawrence, when the "Lawrence" team became founding members of the eight–team New England Association.[1] The Lawrence team's 1877 record is unknown, as the team folded during the season.[2] [3]
The Massachusetts State Association played in 1884, with Lawrence as a member of the eight–team league.[4] Lawrence finished in 4th place playing under five managers: Harry Clarke, L.S. Dow, Charles Freleigh, Matthew Barry and Frank Selee. Lawrence finished 7.0 games behind first place Springfield team in the final standings with a 7–15 record. The Massachusetts State Association folded and played only the 1884 season, with four teams folding on July 21, 1884.[2] [5] [6]
The Lawrence team won a championship in 1885. Lawrence played as members of the Eastern New England League and ended the 1885 season with a record of 48–31, placing first in the Eastern New England League standings. Walter Burnham served as manager in leading Lawrence to the championship of the five–team league. The Eastern New England League played in only the 1885 season.[7] [8] [9] [10]
In 1886, Lawrence began a long association with the New England League. The team finished with a record of 42–55 and placed fifth in their first season of New England League play under manager Frank Cox. Lawrence finished 21.5 games behind first place Portland team in the six–team league.[11] [4] [12] [13]
The Lawrence team moved to Salem during the 1887 New England League season. Lawrence, with a 29–34 record, moved to Salem, Massachusetts on July 26, 1887, and became the Salem Witches.[14] The team ended the season with a 45–50 overall record, placing fifth in the New England League, finishing 21.5 games behind the champion Lowell Browns in the eight–team league. The Lawrence/Salem team was managed by Pat Pettee and Harry Putnam. Salem continued play in the 1888 New England League.[4] [15] [16]
Lawrence was without a team until rejoining the 1892 New England League in mid-season. On July 2, 1892, the Manchester Gazettes of the New England League moved to Lawrence. The team then disbanded before the conclusion of the regular season. The Manchester/Lawrence team had a 26–45 record when the team folded in Lawrence. The 1892 managers were Jim Cudworth and W.J. Freeman.[2] [17] [18]
The Lawrence Indians became members of the reformed Independent New England Association in 1895. Lawrence was in first place with a 31–19 record under manager John Irwin when the league permanently folded on July 8, 1895. Lawrence was 3.0 games ahead of second place Nashua when the six–team league stopped play.[19] [20] [21] [2]
Fitchburg of the New England League, with a 3–7 record, moved the franchise to Lawrence on May 24, 1899. The franchise then disbanded on June 1, 1899. The Fitchburg/Lawrence team ended the 1899 season with a record of 3–14. Ed Norton served as manager.[22] [2]
In 1902, Lawrence adopted the Lawrence Colts moniker and began play as members of the Class B level New England League. Playing home games at Glen Forest Park, the Lawrence Colts finished in third place in the 1902 New England League standings. The Colts finished with a record of 60–51, as William Parsons served as manager. The Colts finished 14.5 games behind first place Manchester.[23] [24] [2] [25]
Lawrence placed sixth in the 1903 New England League standings. With a 48–62 record, the Colts finished 22.5 games behind the Lowell Tigers in the final standings. William Parsons and Steve Flanagan were the managers as Lawrence continued play in the eight–team Class B league.[26] [27] [2] [28]
The Lawrence Colts finished eighth and last in the 1904 New England League. Under manager Steve Flanagan, Lawrence ended the season with a 36–86 record in the eight–team league, 45.5 games behind the first place Haverhill Hustlers and 23.5 games behind the seventh place Lowell Tigers. The Lawrence Colts folded after the 1904 season.[29] [2] [30]
The 1905 New England League began play without Lawrence as a member. On July 20, 1905, the Manchester team relocated to Lawrence. The Manchester/Lawrence Colts team finished in sixth place with a record of 52–54, 16.0 games behind the first place Concord Marines, who had a 69–39 record. Win Clark managed the team in both locations.[31] [2] [32] [33]
Continuing play in the New England League, the 1906 Lawrence Colts finished third in the eight–team league. Phenomenal Smith, Al Weddige and James Rolley managed the Lawrence Colts. Ending the season with a record of 65–52, Lawrence finished 9.5 games behind the champion Worcester Busters in the final standings.[34] [2] [35] [36] [37] [38]
The 1907 Lawrence Colts finished eighth and last in the Class B level New England League. The Colts ended the 1907 season with a record of 40–74, finishing 37.0 games behind the first place Worcester Busters playing under manager James Rolley.[39] [2] [40] [41]
As the Worcester Busters again won the league championship, the Lawrence Colts finished second in the 1908 New England League final standings. Lawrence had a final record of 75–49 under the direction of manager Mal Eason. The Colts finished 5.0 games behind the first place Worcester Busters in the eight–team league.[42] [2]